I’ve got a story for you guys. Last Saturday (October 28th) was my friend’s 21st birthday, and I was invited. A big group of us went out to dinner, and toward the end, we realized that we still needed to pick up the cake, some candles for it, and of course, some alcohol in various forms. Since the liquor store where I live is right next to Stop and Shop (candles), and the cake place was a couple minutes away, I took my newly 21-year old friend and two other girls in my car to run those errands, while we sent someone else for the cake. Once we got there, we sent someone in for the candles, while the 21 year old went in for the booze. I was a little uncomfortable driving around with a 24 pack of beer and some vodka sitting around in my trunk, so I figured I’d just stick a blanket over it when she came out with the purchases. (Just FYI, I go to college out of state, and I was unsure of the law for this in Massachusetts).

So, she came out, we stuck it in the back, threw the blanket over it, and waited a good five minutes for our other friend to come out with the candles. No sooner had we driven out of the parking lot toward the traffic light, when I saw those tell tale flashing lights go on behind me. To make a long story short, I got arrested that night, because the cops were staking out the parking lot of the store, and they figured I must be underage if I was hiding the alcohol in my car. Even though my friend who had just bought the stuff was in the car with me, and even though I was the designated driver for that night, and even though I don’t drink at all, within minutes I was cuffed and riding in the back of the patrol car. When I got to the station we went through the whole thing- questions, finger printing, photographing, and some very memorable time spend in a cell with a girl that got arrested for the same thing dressed as a slutty schoolgirl.

I went to court a few days later, and took the option of community service and a four week substance abuse program so I could have the case dismissed without a verdict. Oh, I might mention that I don’t drink at all and have never done drugs, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what I’ll talk about in my program.

My question to you is this- what do you think of this law? It’s specifically unlawful in Mass. to transport alcohol if you’re under 21 and you don’t have a parent or guardian in the car with you. And while I can see how it could keep minors from having/ obtaining alcohol, it also seems to arrest the wrong people, like me- and one of the cops even said this, when I told him my situation. Leave your thoughts!

BWC:

Yeah, the laws they have sometimes make me question the insanity of it all. I knew some states had "open container laws" which there couldn't be any form of alcohol open inside the main passenger cabin (for lack of better word). Then there are some states that won't let you keep it in the cabin at all, meaning it has to be put into the trunk or put in the bed of a pickup, toolbox on back, etc.

I'd had an incident growing up where they said they could charge me for giving alcohol to a minor, even though I was still a minor myself. And yeah, sounds like the cop staked it out at the liquor store. It's possible that you could have driven off right after your friend purchased his liquors and you'd not have been stopped. The five minutes there might have given the officer the impression that some one was imbibing some of it, leading to a public intoxication. Or better yet, maybe a driving under the influence.

Some laws are down right stupid, but in conservative regions of the U.S., they pass them to curtail the youth by penalty. I once bought a really nice Gerber knife. It was double-edged, while the blade and handle were within the legal limitations that I knew were in effect. Was stopped by an officer one night while carrying it in it's sheath. He asked to see it and then warned me it was illegal to carry it. I claimed that I bought it legally and over the counter at a local, respectable business. He simply said "You can't always carry around with you what you can buy". Now thats slightly similar and another point that it's all a case of stupid insanity.

This might sound naive, but I really do feel that a lot of laws are in place simply to get teens, and young adults in a lot of trouble, for little things.

I've been fortunate enough to get lucky being stupid. I haven't been caught drinking, yet. But our police force sucks here too. I've been in more trouble so far from skating than I have drinking.

And I have had the same experience with cops saying something is against the law when it isn't. I love it when I know for a fact that something isn't against the law when they lie about it, thinking I don't know because I'm 16, then I tell them I'm not a fuckin idiot and I'll go to the chief of police (I went out with his daughter for a few months, he loves me) and give him your name. I love scaring the shit out of those fucking assholes.

A friend of mine (in Maryland) ran into a similar situation.

He was twenty, and his girlfriend was 21. They were making dinner and she decided she wanted some wine coolers to go with it. She went into the liquor store and he went with her. She legally purchased the alcohol it was bagged up, and then, being a gentleman, he carried the bag out for her.

As they're walking out of the store the a plain clothes policeman came up to them and identified himself than asked to see ID for my buddy. He showed him his liscense which clearly identified him as being under 21. At which point he was arrested and charged, but didn't have to spend anytime in jail, the released him as soon as he was processed and gave him a court date.

I forget how it turned out since it happened about 6 years ago, but I know that my dad who is an attorney gave him legal advice and I think actually went with him to court.

Alrighty- I'll update everyone on the lovely situation. Basically, I went to court a couple days after, and when I got there I was offered the Diversion Program, which I believe I explained above. Anyway, I already did my mandatory community service (I raked leaves along the side of the road for about 3 hours in one of those ever-so-stylish hot orange vests and felt like a horrible convict), and I'm all set up to go to my substance abuse classes, so I can tell everyone about all the alcohol I don't drink, and all the drugs I don't do. :P The kicker was- I didn't get arrested on campus, and yet, a few days after the incident, I get a letter in my mailbox asking me to set up a judicial conference with the Dean of Students. I figured I was in for it, but when I got there, the man I talked to said it was my chance to tell my side of the story- and that actually went over really well. After listening to me, he said he realized how the whole situation got blown totally out of proportion, and he'd give me the bare minimum- a little slap on the wrist, which equated to me signing a paper saying I wouldn't do it again. All in all, it turned out ok... I'm still a little angry about it, but I know I have to play by their rules, and I will. I'll let ya know how it goes... and be careful, everyone!

PS- I got arrested off campus, but I got called to the Dean because I still violated our code of student conduct. (I was one town over when they got me). I wonder... would this still have happened if I got arrested elsewhere? In another state, perhaps? :huh: